There has been some discussion on our forum recently about the fascinating bodywork technique called Ortho-bionomy. I had the great blessing of living with someone for a while who practiced Orthbionomy so I was able to receive many sessions. It is truly powerful work.

Here is an except from the website www.ortho-bionomy.org

Ortho-Bionomy is a gentle, non-invasive, osteopathically-based form of body therapy which is highly effective in working with chronic stress, injuries and pains or problems associated with postural and structural imbalances. The practitioner uses gentle movements and positions of the body to facilitate the change of stress and pain patterns. A strong focus is placed on the comfort of the individual, no forceful manipulations are used. The practitioner also suggests home exercises that individuals can do to further facilitate the neuromuscular re-education process begun in the session. Ortho-Bionomy is very effective in helping alleviate both acute and chronic pain and stress patterns by reducing chronic muscle tension, soothing the joints, increasing flexibility, improving circulation, and relaxing the entire body.

Ortho-Bionomy was developed by Dr. Arthur Lincoln Pauls, a British osteopath, who wanted to find a way to work with the body which honored the body’s inherent wisdom. From his experience as a Judo instructor and through his training as an osteopath, he found ways of working with the body by exaggerating the body’s preferred postures, thereby permitting the body’s self-healing process to create greater balance and alignment. He discovered that by working WITH the body and not against it, the body could find balance on its own without having to use force to correct it. Dr. Pauls began teaching this work in the US in 1976, and has taught Ortho-Bionomy extensively throughout Europe.

The term “Ortho-Bionomy” comes from “ortho” meaning correct or straight, “bio” meaning life, and “nomy” meaning the laws of or study of. Dr. Pauls defined the term then as “the correct application of the laws of life.” He stated “[Ortho-Bionomy] is really about understanding your whole life cycle. Naturally, we focus on the structure because that is the literal skeleton upon which our life is built. When your structure works right, your circulation works better, you feel better, you think better.” (Kain and Berns, 1992)

How does Ortho-Bionomy work?
Ortho-Bionomy stimulates the body’s self-correcting and self-balancing reflexes by way of the proprioceptive reflexes located in our joints and muscles. The practitioner uses movement and gentle compression to find positions of comfort which allow the body to change the stress and pain patterns which are causing the discomfort.

Ortho-Bionomy also employs the homeopathic concept that what cannot be cured from within cannot be cured from without. Using gentle positioning and light touch, Ortho-Bionomy stimulates inner awareness to awaken within the individual a sense of natural balance and well-being, both physically and emotionally. The inner wisdom of the body is recognized and affirmed. Self healing occurs as the person remembers their natural ability to move away from pain and toward ease.

Here are some of my favorite books on a variety of massage therapy related subjects.

Textbooks.
Introduction to Massage Therapy by Mary Beth Braun
Mosby’s Fundamentals of Therapeutic Massage by Sandy Fritz
Milady’s Theory & Practice of Therapeutic Massage by Mark F. Beck
Basic Clinical Massage Therapy by James Clay & David Pounds

Pathology Books written specifically for Massage Therapists.
Massage Therapists Guide to Pathology by Ruth Werner
The Human Body in Health & Illness by Barbara Herlihy

Jobs Body by Deanne Juhan
A classic overview of the physiological effects of touch on the body.

The Way of Acupressure Jin Shen Do by Iona Teegarden
A wonderful in depth introduction to the powerful acupressure technique of Jin Shin Do. Contains numerous treatment patterns that can be learned from the book.

The Massage Book by George Downing
I first learned to do massage from this book prior to going to massage school over 30 years ago. Some of the information is outdated and inappropriate for the industry as it is today, but it has some of the best Esalen Massage strokes you will find anywhere and it conveys the sense of excitement and exploration that was present as Esalen Massage was being developed in the late 1960’s.

Business books for massage therapists.
Massage: A Career at your Fingertips by Martin Ashley
Year to a Successful Massage Therapy Practice by Laura Allen
Business Mastery by  Cherie Sohen-Moe

Save your Hands by Laurianne Greene

Pre and Perinatal Massage   by Carole Osborne-Sheets

Excellent Anatomy Books
Atlas of Human Anatomy by Frank Netter
Trail Guide to the Body by Andrew Biel

Ethics for Massage Therapists
The Educated Heart    by Nina  McIntosh
The Ethics of Touch by Ben Benjamin & Cherie Sohnen-Moe

Energy Healing
Hands of Light by Barbara Ann Brennan
Energy Healing - A Pathway to Inner Growth by Jim Gilkeson